Pontifical
Council for the Pastoral Care of the Migrants and Itinerant People

XXI
World Congress of Apostolatus Maris

Final Document

I. Preamble

The XXI World Congress of the AOS was held in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, September 29 - October 5, 2002. Two hundred forty delegates,
Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Religious, Lay Pastoral Associates, AOS Members and
Volunteers, Seafarers and Maritime Personnel, Observers and Guests, who came
from 60 countries, deliberated on the theme, The Apostleship of the Sea in a
New Globalized World, which addressed important issues confronting
seafarers, fishers, their families and the maritime world.

AOS Chaplains and their Lay Co-Workers in the Ministry are
daily witnesses to the international environment where free competition nearly
always favours developed countries, thus causing continuing and increasing human
exploitation and misery in developing countries.Globalization will be a blessing only when it benefits especially the
poor and the weak. This is not happening now.

In spite of what may be seen as progress and possible
benefits, such as bi- and multi-lateral fishing agreements, the transfer of new
technologies, and more career opportunities, the cost is high. A substandard
sector in the shipping and fishing industries cheats, abuses, exploits and
abandons seafarers with impunity, causing them and their families untold misery.

Flags of Convenience (FoC) obfuscate the links between
owner, ship and crew, resulting many times in a network of corruption and profit
at the expense of the crew, especially on cruise ships. It is regrettable that
illegal recruiting is tolerated by some governments.

During this Congress we have heard the cries of the people
who have been confronted with the negative impact of globalization. The Gospel
and the Church teach us that, above all, human dignity must be the core value to
be respected and that economy is for man and not man for economy. The poverty
that results also from unfettered globalization is one of the worst violations
of human dignity. The Christian Churches andecclesial Communities have a special duty to witness together
ecumenically in the hope of controlling the excesses of globalization, and they
should invite all people of good will, in all religions, to collaborate for this
aim.

Aware that the rules of this new global economy and market
frighten many but are only partially written and are themselves the subject of
considerable dispute, we, in the AOS, are called to give a human face to
globalization in the maritime world, to help write the rules (“governance”)
of a new world order, which will be based on ethical principles, solidarity and
the inviolability of human dignity.

II. Observations and resolutions

Awareness of this reality has led Congress Participants to
consider the need for the AOS to adapt its structures, methods and objectives.

1. Structures:

a) Through its National and International
structures, the AOS should confront the excesses of globalization by:

Strengthening its own network and its visibility, in
the maritime world and beyond,

Keeping the AOS membership, public opinion, churches
and society as a whole, informed about the crucial issues at hand,

Fostering, through the Pontifical Council of the
Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People, close relationships with
all Catholic and other Church agencies as well as NGOs, Governments or
International Agencies, and act effectively with them. Ecumenical
co-operation in this context remains essential

b) On the local
level the AOS must:

Provide better training for Chaplains and Pastoral
Associates,

Support the seafarers during their training,

Support people affected by AIDS in the maritime world:
seafarers, families and orphans,

Assist in organizing Port Welfare Programmes and
Organizations where they do not exist.

c) Port Ministry should be developed wherever it is needed but do
not yet exist.Diocesan
Authorities, clergy and the faithful need to better recognize the work of AOS
and the specific needs of seafarers.

2. Methods:

a) Considering the
AOS as a whole

The best way to fulfill our mission is through our
testimony, gratuitousness and volunteer work.We are prophetic when we are humble, truthful and respectful of
others – and not afraid of self-criticism. Therefore we should:

Develop a spirituality of service

Advocate for human rights and dignity, urging all
Christian people to make a preferential option for the poor.

This AOS Congress calls on all Churches and ecclesial
Communities to work together in promoting human values.

We welcome the growing involvement of permanent Deacons
in the Maritime Apostolate and wish that it be accelerated and take place
everywhere.

We encourage the adoption of an internationally
recognized identity card to eliminate the need for special visas for
seafarers to go ashore.

We observe that ship visiting is more and more
important and should be extended into a program of “sailing chaplains”
on cargo and passenger ships (see ICMA program).

We encourage more professionalism and training in
counseling and pastoral care, crisis preparedness and advocacy.

We must be innovative in using Internet Technology.

The Regional Coordinators, National Directors and other
leaders are requested to meet within a year to determine what has been achieved
and what still needs to be done.

b) Considering
individual members of the AOS

The increasing role of women in the maritime community,
especially through their Associations, is applauded.We invite those who have not yet done so to move confidently with the
AOS beyond their domestic role. They should

Use their talents and insights to support other
maritime families in need

Raise their voices in advocacy of human and family
rights

The recruiting of Extraordinary Ministers of the
Eucharist (EME) and Prayer Leaders is to be encouraged. They must be given
the appropriate training.

Everybody is encouraged to make use of the AOS website
<http://www.stellamaris.net>–
and contribute to it with accurate information.

The AOS needs to significantly increase its membership
with people who are expected to be men and women of prayer, fervently living
gospel values in their personal lives.

3. Objectives:

a) Towards the Families of the People of the Sea:

Seafarers’ Family (or Wives) Associations are to be
encouraged and be promoted everywhere.

Wives, children and families are called to participate
more fully in “maritime ministry”.They
are further encouraged to take initiatives that will bring port communities
together to support and offer spiritual and practical guidance in the embrace of
local AOS Chaplaincies.

b) Towards International Shipping:

The AOS commends the efforts of the ILO/IMO Working Group
on abandoned seafarers and the responsibilities of shipowners regarding injuries
and deaths of seafarers, with the hope that existing Guidelines will develop
into a Convention. It supports all initiatives that give ILO the power to
enforce their Maritime Conventions.

In the aftermath of September 11, we recognize that
Governments care more for security measures.At the same time we are concerned for the physical, psychological and
spiritual health of seafarers who can be denied shore leave by excessively
stringent dispositions.

We are grateful to ITF-Seafarers’ Trust for its
pro-active role in providing support for welfare work.

We wish to make known to all seafarers the new tool at
their disposal in calling for help:the International Seafarers Assistance network (ISAN) which
will offer a 24 hour toll-free phone service to seafarers anywhere in the world
(00 800 SEAFARERS).

c) Towards Small Scale and Industrial Fishing:

Half a billion people in the World depend on fishing for
their livelihood. Industrial fishing also has its share of problems. We know
that fishers have often been denied their dignity.

The Congress recognizes their professionalism and
contribution, both in small scale and traditional fishing, and wishes to empower
them to deal with their professional issues, infrastructures and finances. It
recommends that, through international instruments, fishers may enjoy equal
social protection as do merchant seafarers.

The AOS shall seek and support the full and timely
implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

An “AOS Fishing Committee” should be constituted,
comprised of AOS members working pastorally with fishers and in contact with
their respective organizations at local, national and international levels.

Conclusion

There are three main points that have arisen during this
Congress:

solidarity must be globalized;

Globalization must be given a human face;

The Apostleship of the Sea has a role to play towards a
new world order that involves taking into account the values of the Gospel
and the social doctrine of the Church.

By
opening our heart to the love of God, the love of our brothers and sisters will
make us capable of shaping history according to God's plan. Our
Lord tells us, “Do not be afraid, I shall be with you always” (Mt 28, 20).